'The great times of my younger life'

I was born in Libertyville, but lived my memorable years in Waukegan. I attended and graduated from North School, which was off North Avenue, in 1950.

We walked to school in those days, and as we did, we passed the Druce Drug Store, where my aunt worked for years, and they had the best malts in the area. We also passed Bally Muck Tavern, where they opened the door and aired it out every morning. I still remember the stale cigarette and liquor smells as we passed. We also passed Meadow Gold Dairy where you could hear the cans clinking and see the trucks pulling out for their daily runs.

Every Saturday we would either walk or take the streetcar to downtown Waukegan to go to the serial movies at the Times Theatre or possibly across South Genesee to the Rialto instead. They were just across the street from each other.

One day while waiting for the street car we were afraid the streetcar was not stopping so we tried to flag it down. Well, a cab was passing the streetcar and stopped, thinking we were flagging him down. An accident resulted and we quickly got on the streetcar and left. I wonder to this day what the outcome from that accident was. There was no one hurt, we did learn that.

I remember if you dated and found someone with a car we would "scoop the loop," which was going south then north on South Genesee Street so as to see and be seen. It was well patrolled and very busy on Friday and Saturday evening, so we had to keep moving. If we could find a parking spot on the bridge, we would sit and people-watch until it was time to leave.

We lived on James Court, which was a one-block dead end street off Gillette Avenue. Gillette had the most beautiful trees that made an arch over the street. During heavy rains, James Court flooded and that meant we could go "swimming." At the end of the street there was a sidewalk between two homes which led over the next street. The sidewalk, I understand, is no longer there. It is now backyards to the homes I mentioned.

I married a Texan in 1970 and have lived there ever since, but to this day the great times of my younger life were in Waukegan.

Doreen Verne Cluck

Addison, Texas